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# Nathaniel

#### by Mark D F Shirley

The copyright of this article remains with the original author. Articles may be copied or distributed freely for personal non-profit use, provided that the author is properly credited.

#### Nathaniel, follower of Bonisagus

### Background

Nathaniel is the natural child of Brennard and a Merinita Maga, and has been surrounded by magic since his birth. He is the result of an experiment conducted by Brennard of Bonisagus into the nature of the Gift. Brennard sought around for a maga who was willing to take part in the experiment, and found Gironel, a somewhat licentious woman who was all too willing to help the handsome Brennard with his work.

When Nathaniel was born, Gironel showed little interest in him, and soon left Brennard's covenant for pastures new, leaving Brennard to take care of the baby. Brennard learnt a lot about childcare in a very short time, prefering not to trust the result of his experiment to the hands of a wet-nurse. Despite his attempted objectivity, Brennard could not help but come to love Nathaniel, and doubt the whole premise of his experiment. Nevertheless, when Nathaniel started to talk, he was taught Latin from books on Hermetic Theory, and by the age of 6 was already casting minor spells. Nathaniel was by no means a normal child, however. Being born to two magi and being exposed to a magical aura since before his birth has had a profound effect on him. He has little knowledge outside of the walls of a covenant, and he has little faith in his own abilities beyond his magic. Most importantly, he is what the Twentieth Century will call autistic, though only to a mild degree (this is simulated using the Simple Minded and Reclusive flaws, and the Poor Memory component of the Magical Memory Virtue). Note that Nathaniel has 13 point of virtues and the same number of points of flaws to simulate his special circumstances. He was once attacked by a pack of wild dogs on the one occasion he went beyond the covenant walls without an escort, and he has a mortal fear of them. Nearly all of the spells listed below were invented by him when he had a need for them. His father encouraged him to "write up" the results of Spontaneous spells that he cast as Formulaic spells, so his magics are very utilitarian. His current project is to develop his Imaginem magics so he can create a scrying spell, enabling him to explore without leaving the safety of his covenant.

Nathaniel passed the Gauntlet of House Bonsagus earlier this year, at an age younger than any magus since the founding of the Order of Hermes. He is brilliant, and prone to flashes of insight, but in the main he is withdrawn, introspective and more than a little eccentric. He has just discovered that he has an older half-sister who is also a magus, Catherine von Helberran

#### Appearance

Nathaniel (he prefers to be called Nathan because it makes him sound more ordinary...) is a young man of 16. He always looks at the ground, head bowed, and is usually lost in thought. He dresses simply and scruffily.

Name: Nathaniel

Parens: Brennard

House: Bonisagus

Age: 16 (apparent 16)

Size: 0

### Characteristics:

Int | +5 | genius | Str | -2 | under-developed | Prs | 0 |  | Dex | 0 |
Per | +1 | intuitive | Sta | -1 | puny | Com | -2 | introvert | Qik | 0 |

### Virtues

Knack (Magic Theory) +2
Incredible Intelligence +4
Quick Mastery +2
Inventive Genius +1
Magical Memory +3

### Flaws

Simple Minded -1
Terrors (dogs) -2
Deleterious Circumstances (common & minor, when not in magic aura) -2
Weak Self Confidence -1
Reclusive -1
Sheltered Upbringing -2
Twilight Prone -3

### Personality Traits

Eccentric +3
Reclusive +2
Awkward +2
Gullible +1

#### Reputations

Prodigy (House Bonisagus) 1

#### Confidence

3

### Abilities

Speak Latin (precision) 5
Scribe Latin (precision) 3
Magic Theory (spells) 6
Hermes Lore (innovation) 2
Hermes History (Bonisagi) 2
Parma Magica (Mentem) 4
Certamen (Vim) 0
Finesse (Rego) 2
Penetration (Corpus)1
Concentration (Vim) 2
Occult Lore (hedge wizardry) 2
Philosophiae (natural philosophy) 2

### Hermetic Arts

Creo | 4 | Animal | 4 | Ignem | 2
Intellego | 7 | Aquam | 3 | Imaginem | 3
Muto | 4 | Auram | 2 | Mentem | 6
Perdo | 3 | Corpus | 5 | Terram | 3
Rego | 3 | Herbam | 4 | Vim | 4

#### Wizard's Sigil

Eyes shine with a brief light

### Grimoire

Voice of Reason (MuMe15) +9
Thoughts Within Babble (InMe25) +12
Confusion of the Numbed Will (ReMe15) +8
Converse with Plants and Trees (InHe25) +10
The Inexorable Search (InCo20) +11
Tongue of the Beasts (InAn20) +10
Soothe the Ferocious Boar (ReAn 10) +6
Sight of the True Form (InCo10) +11
Despair of the Quivering Manacles (ReCo10) +7